[Ord. No. 1703 §1, 11-20-2013]
No person shall be an Alderman unless he or she is at least eighteen (18) years of age, a citizen of the United States, and an inhabitant and resident of the City of Dardenne Prairie for one (1) year next preceding his or her election, and a resident, at the time he or she files and during the time he or she serves, of the ward from which he or she is elected.
No person shall be Mayor unless he/she be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the City at the time of and for at least one (1) year next preceding his/her election.
The Board shall elect one (1) of their own number who shall be styled "Acting President of the Board of Aldermen" and who shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
When any vacancy shall happen in the office of Mayor by death, resignation, removal from the City, removal from office, refusal to qualify, or from any other cause whatever, the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall, for the time being, perform the duties of Mayor, with all the rights, privileges, powers and jurisdiction of the Mayor, until such vacancy be filled or such disability be removed or, in case of temporary absence, until the Mayor's return.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of each City governed by this Chapter shall have the care, management and control of the City and its finances and shall have power to enact and ordain any and all ordinances not repugnant to the Constitution and laws of this State, and such as they shall deem expedient for the good government of the City, the preservation of peace and good order, the benefit of trade and commerce, and the health of the inhabitants thereof, and such other ordinances, rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry such powers into effect and to alter, modify or repeal the same.
The Mayor shall have a seat in and preside over the Board of Aldermen but shall not vote on any question except in case of a tie, nor shall he/she preside or vote in cases when he/she is an interested party. He/she shall exercise a general supervision over all the officers and affairs of the City and shall take care that the ordinances of the City, and the State laws relating to such City, are complied with.
The style of the ordinances of the City shall be: "Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Dardenne Prairie, as follows:" No ordinance shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall become an ordinance unless on its final passage a majority of the members elected to the Board of Aldermen shall vote for it, and the "ayes" and "nays" be entered on the journal. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced to the Board of Aldermen in writing and shall be read by title or in full two (2) times prior to passage, both readings may occur at a single meeting of the Board of Aldermen. If the proposed ordinance is read by title only, copies of the proposed ordinance shall be made available for public inspection prior to the time the bill is under consideration by the Board of Aldermen. No bill shall become an ordinance until it shall have been signed by the Mayor, or person exercising the duties of the Mayor's office, or shall have been passed over the Mayor's veto as herein provided.
Every bill duly passed by the Board of Aldermen and presented to the Mayor and by him/her approved shall become an ordinance, and every bill presented as aforesaid, but returned with the Mayor's objections thereto, shall stand reconsidered. The Board of Aldermen shall cause the objections of the Mayor to be entered at large upon the journal and proceed at its convenience to consider the question pending, which shall be in this form: "Shall the bill pass, the objections of the Mayor thereto notwithstanding?" The vote on this question shall be taken by "ayes" and "nays" and the names entered upon the journal, and if two-thirds (⅔) of all the members-elect shall vote in the affirmative, the City Clerk shall certify the fact on the roll, and the bill thus certified shall be deposited with the proper officer and shall become an ordinance in the same manner and with like effect as if it had received the approval of the Mayor. The Mayor shall have power to sign or veto any ordinance passed by the Board of Aldermen; provided, that should he/she neglect or refuse to sign any ordinance and return the same with his/her objections, in writing, at the next regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen, the same shall become a law without his/her signature.
The Board of Aldermen shall cause to be kept a journal of its proceedings, and the "ayes" and "nays" shall be entered on any question at the request of any two (2) members. The Board of Aldermen may prescribe and enforce such rules as it may find necessary for the expeditious transaction of its business.
The Board of Aldermen shall semi-annually each year, at times to be set by the Board of Aldermen, make out and spread upon their records a full and detailed account and statement of the receipts and expenditures and indebtedness of the City for the half year ending with the last day of the month immediately preceding the date of such report, which account and statement shall be published in some newspaper in the City.
In the event the financial statement of the City is not published as required by Section 110.100, the Treasurer of the City shall not pay out any money of the City on any warrant or order of the Board of Aldermen after the end of the month in which such financial statement should have been published until such time as such financial statement is published. Any Treasurer violating the provisions of this Section shall be deemed guilty of a ordinance violation.
The Board of Aldermen shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers and records relating to any subject under consideration in which the interest of the City is involved and shall have power to call on the proper officers of the City, or of the County in which such City is located, to execute such process. The officer making such service shall be allowed to receive therefor such fees as are allowed by law in the Circuit Court for similar services, to be paid by the City. The Mayor or Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses.
The Mayor shall sign the commissions and appointments of all City Officers elected or appointed in the City and shall approve all official bonds unless otherwise prescribed by ordinance.
The Mayor shall be active and vigilant in enforcing all laws and ordinances for the government of the City, and he/she shall cause all subordinate officers to be dealt with promptly for any neglect or violation of duty; and he/she is hereby authorized to call on every male inhabitant of the City over eighteen (18) years of age and under fifty (50) to aid in enforcing the laws.
The Mayor shall from time to time communicate to the Board of Aldermen such measures as may, in his/her opinion, tend to the improvement of the finances, the Police, health, security, ornament, comfort and general prosperity of the City.
The Mayor shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures and to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses arising under the ordinances of the City; but this Section shall not be so construed as to authorize the Mayor to remit any costs which may have accrued to any officer of said City by reason of any prosecution under the laws or ordinances of such City.
[Ord. No. 741 §§2 — 3, 5, 4-15-2004; Ord. No. 1184 §1, 7-18-2007; Ord. No. 1297 §1, 4-16-2008]
A. 
The Board of Aldermen of the City of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, shall meet in regular session at 7:00 P.M. on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Wednesdays of each month. The regular meeting place for the regular meetings of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, shall be the City Hall, located at 2032 Hanley Road, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri.
B. 
The Board of Aldermen shall hold their work session on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Wednesdays of each calendar month. All meetings shall be held at the City Hall, located at 2032 Hanley Road, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, at 5:30 P.M. local time.
C. 
Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the Board of Aldermen from commencing a regular meeting before or after 7:00 P.M. or a work session meeting before or after 5:30 P.M. on the date of the regular meeting or work session if the posted agenda for the regular meeting establishes a different starting time for the regular meeting or work session.
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or by any two (2) members of the Board by written request filed with the City Clerk who shall thereupon prepare a notice of such special meeting in conformance with Chapter 120, Open Meetings and Records Policy, of this Code.
At the hour appointed, the Mayor, or in his/her absence the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen, shall call the Board to order, the Clerk shall call the roll of members and announce whether or not a quorum is present. A majority of the members elected to the Board shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum not be present, a smaller number may lawfully adjourn the meeting from day to day until a quorum is present.
[Ord. No. 2263, 7-19-2023]
A. 
Order Of Business. The Board of Aldermen, at its regular meetings, shall proceed to transact the business before them in the following order:
1. 
Call to order.
2. 
Pledge of Allegiance.
3. 
Roll call.
4. 
Consent agenda.
5. 
Items removed from the consent agenda.
6. 
Public comment.
7. 
Public hearing.
8. 
New business.
9. 
Old business.
10. 
Officer and staff communications.
11. 
Adjournment.
B. 
Robert's Rules Of Order. Except as otherwise set forth in this Code, the Board of Aldermen shall conduct its meetings in accordance with Henry M. Robert III, et al., Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Ed., Public Affairs 2020) or any subsequent edition thereof and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 610, RSMo.
1. 
Motion To Reconsider. Upon the declaration of a vote by the presiding officer on any question subject to reconsideration pursuant to this Section, any member who voted with the prevailing side may move for a reconsideration of the matter at the same or the next succeeding regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen, provided that said question must be expressly placed upon the agenda for said succeeding regular meeting consistent with the Requirements of Chapter 610, RSMo.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the following matters may not be reconsidered:
a. 
A resolution or ordinance authorizing or relating to any contract that has been fully executed;
b. 
A bill that has been duly passed by the Board of Aldermen and signed by the Mayor pursuant to Section 79.140, RSMo.;
c. 
An affirmative vote whose provisions have been partly carried out;
d. 
Any vote that has caused something to be done that it is impossible to undo; and
e. 
A vote on a matter in which the intervening rights of a third party have vested.
2. 
Introduction Of Bills. Any bill, resolution or other matter shall be placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Board of Aldermen at the request of the Mayor or any two (2) members of the Board of Aldermen, subject to, the following:
a. 
Any such request shall be submitted on forms prepared by the City Administrator which contain, the following:
(1) 
The proposed date of the meeting(s) of the Board of Aldermen at which the bill, resolution or other matter will be considered;
(2) 
A general description of the nature of the matter to be considered sufficient to enable drafting by City staff, or exact verbiage if available;
(3) 
A summary explanation of the bill, resolution or other matter to be considered, including any supporting materials;
(4) 
The budget impact, if any;
(5) 
The name of the person or persons requesting such action; and
(6) 
Acknowledgment of timely receipt of the form by the City Administrator.
b. 
Such forms shall be submitted no later than 5:00 P.M. on the Wednesday immediately preceding any work session of the Board of Aldermen at which said bill, resolution or other items are to be discussed.
c. 
Upon timely receipt of the form required herein, the bill, resolution or other matter shall be placed on the agenda for the next work session of the Board of Aldermen at which time the Board of Aldermen may vote to direct its inclusion on a regular or special meeting of the Board of Aldermen, on a subsequent date, for consideration or take such other action as the Board of Aldermen shall deem appropriate.
d. 
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the procedures provided herein shall not apply to any bill, resolution or other matter that:
(1) 
Was previously considered by the City's Planning and Zoning Commission;
(2) 
Involves the acquisition by the City of any right-of-way or easement interests in real property, the cost of which are contained within the authority granted the Mayor, City Administrator, or any other person authorized under the budget or other ordinances of the City;
(3) 
Involves any budgeted items unless the same is in excess of the authority granted to the Mayor, City Administrator or other person authorized by existing ordinances;
(4) 
Is an escrow agreement, escrow release, annexation agreement or PUD agreement;
(5) 
Is a communication from the Mayor to the Board of Aldermen, a mayoral proclamation, a mayoral appointment, or a mayoral certificate of recognition;
(6) 
Are minutes of any meeting of the Board of Aldermen, or any notice of public hearing required by ordinance or law;
(7) 
Is a report or acknowledgment required by law;
(8) 
Is an action required pursuant to a previously approved contract, resolution or memorandum of understanding;
(9) 
Is an approval of a license or permit;
(10) 
Is an administrative action the procedures for which are required by ordinance or law; or
(11) 
Is a closed meeting item.
e. 
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, subject to the requirements Chapter 610, RSMo., the Mayor or any three (3) members of the Board of Aldermen may consent to the addition of any item to the agenda of any work session, regular or special meeting of the Board of Aldermen in the case of an emergency. An "emergency" for the purposes of this paragraph refers to unforeseen circumstances that, if not addressed immediately by the Board of Aldermen, will likely result in injury or damage to persons or property, substantial financial loss to the City or if the effectiveness of the proposed action will be significantly diminished if delayed to future meetings. The purpose of the declaration of emergency shall be set forth in the form submitted, and any action taken by the Board in reliance upon that declaration shall be deemed consent and concurrence of the Board of the existence of such emergency.
3. 
Passage Of Ordinances. All bills shall have two (2) readings before final passage, and, except in the case of emergency bills the second reading of which is approved by the affirmative vote of five (5) members of the Board of Aldermen, not more than one (1) reading shall be at the same meeting of the Board of Aldermen and at least one (1) week shall elapse between the introduction and the final passage of any bill. After the second reading of any bill, the Board of Aldermen may finally pass the bill with or without amendment; except that if the Board of Aldermen shall make an amendment which constitutes a change in substance, the bill as amended shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk for one (1) additional week, after which final action may be taken.
[Ord. No. 2268, 9-6-2023]
a. 
Emergency Ordinances. Consistent with the procedures set forth herein, an ordinance may be passed as an emergency measure on the day of introduction of the bill, provided that it contains the statement that an emergency exists and specifies the nature of the emergency. Emergency ordinances shall be restricted to the following:
(1) 
Bills concerning the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, safety or morals;
(2) 
Bills that, if not addressed immediately by the Board of Aldermen, will likely result in substantial financial loss to the City or significantly diminish the effectiveness of the proposed action;
(3) 
Appropriations for the payment of principal or interest on the public debt;
(4) 
Appropriations for the payment of current expenses of the City government or payment of compromise settlement of damage claims upon recommendation of the City Attorney; or
(5) 
Bills providing the issuance of bonds pursuant to an election.
C. 
Public Comment. The general public shall be afforded an opportunity to address the Board of Aldermen during the portion of the order of business set aside for public comment. Any person desiring to address the Board of Aldermen shall first, before the announced conclusion of public comments, fill out a public comment speaker card containing the name of the speaker and the topic of his or her comments and submit it to the City Clerk. When called by the City Clerk, the person wishing to speak shall approach the designated microphone and provide their name and address in an audible tone. Each speaker shall be allowed three (3) minutes to speak. The Mayor will be responsible for enforcing time limits. All remarks shall be addressed to the Board of Aldermen as a body and not to any individual member thereof. No person, other than the person having the floor, shall be permitted to speak during the time allowed.
1. 
If a member of the public asks a direct question of a member of the Board of Aldermen or the Mayor, time will be set aside on the agenda for the Mayor or any member of the Board of Aldermen to respond to such a question with brief response as facilitated by the Mayor as Chair of the meeting.
D. 
Public Hearing. At each public hearing required by law or ordinance, the applicant or petitioner for the matter set for public hearing shall be given, collectively, fifteen (15) minutes to present their request to the Board of Aldermen. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen may ask questions of the applicant or petitioner. If such questions are asked of the applicant, petitioner, the Mayor, or the Board of Aldermen, may, in their sole discretion, extend the time for the applicant or petitioner to make their presentation to the Board of Aldermen. For purposes of this Subsection, the terms "applicant" or "petitioner" shall include the applicant or petitioners employees, agents and representatives. All other speakers shall be subject to the same rules and procedures as set forth in Subsection (C) of this Section.
E. 
Decorum. In addition to the rules, regulations and procedures established by Robert's Rules of Order, the Board of Aldermen shall abide by the following with regard to maintaining order at public meetings:
1. 
In the event any member of the public becomes belligerent, intimidating or threatening or otherwise seeks to or does disrupt the orderly process of the meeting in a manner obviously hostile to the announced purpose of the meeting to any member of the governmental entity or to any member of the general public, the presiding officer shall have the authority and discretion to warn the offending member of the public to refrain from the abusive or offensive behavior.
2. 
If the offending member of the public refuses to abate the offensive behavior, the presiding officer may request that the member leave the meeting. In the event that the member refuses to do so, the presiding officer may order his or her removal by any attending Police Officer who shall proceed to escort the offending member from the meeting premises.
3. 
If in the presiding officer's judgment removal of the offending member is required and no Police Officer is in attendance to effect such removal, the presiding officer may suspend the meeting to request the attendance of a Police Officer and the removal of the offending member or the Board may adjourn the meeting as may be appropriate.
4. 
All authority, discretion and actions of the Chair stated in Subsection (E)(2), (3) and (4) above shall also apply to a majority vote of the members at the meeting.
F. 
Non-compliance with the provisions of this Section shall not invalidate any action by the Board of Aldermen, irrespective of whether the rules of procedure provided for in this Section were suspended, waived or tacitly ignored.